Egg-handling device.



B. REX. EGG HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1913.

1 ,106,059, Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

o k; 0000 0 000000 oooooo ooooo 000 00% 'I'HE NORRIS PETERS CU.FHU'IO-LI'I'HO. WASHINGTON. D ('7 H. E. REX.

EGG HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25,1913.

1,106,059. Patented Aug". 4, 191

2 SHEETS'SHEET 2.

HARRY E. REX, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

EGG-HANDLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au". 4, 1914.

Application filed August 25, 1913.. Serial No. 786,589.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. REX, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, haveinvented a certain new and useful Egg-Handling Device, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an egg handling device ofsimple, durable and inexpensive construction.

More particularly it is my object to provide an egg handling deviceprovided with means whereby eggs may be removed from a case at a singlecomplete operation and placed within a special receptacle.

Still a further object is to provide such a receptacle and a specialtray, whereby all the eggs in one filler may be removed at one time insaid receptacle.

Still a further object is to provide such a receptacle so constructedthat it may be adjusted for removing the eggs as above set forth.

Still a further object is to provide adj ustable means for receivingfillers of eggs with eggs therein, one filler at a time, and for movingall the fillers of the eggs into a case at a single operation.

A further object is to provide means for candling the eggs, said meansbeing so constructed and arranged that the eggs may be inspected fromall sides.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction,combination and arrangement of the various parts of the device, wherebyall the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of an egg testing device, embodying myinvention. Figs. 2 and 3 show planviews of my improved conveyer or platefor removing the eggs by fillers from the receptacle and for placingthem in a second receptacle. Fig. 4 shows a top or plan view of myimproved egg testing machine. Fig. 5 shows a detail View of part of themechanism for operating the second receptacle, and Fig. 6 shows a detailview taken at right angles to the view at Fig. 5, showing part of thesame mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate generally the supporting legs of my improved egg testingdevice. The legs 10 are arranged in groups of four, at each end oi thedevice and the four legs at each end are arranged substantially in theform of a rectangle to support the receptacles hereinafter mentioned.The respective groups of four legs are spaced apart from each other andare connected by horizontal members 11. Mounted upon the legs 10, at theleft hand end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, is a casing orreceptacle 12,.of approximately the same size and shape as a standardcggcasc. The receptacle 12 is mounted to slide vertically on the legs10. Extending downwardly from the case 12, preferably from the middlethereof, is an upright member 13, which extends through an opening 141.in one of the cross members 11, indicated by the dotted lines. Securedto the top of the last mentioned member 11 and extending partly acrossthe opening 14, is a metal plate 15, designed to be engaged by notches16 on the lower end of the member 13.

It will be seen that the member 11 with the opening 14, together withthe plate 15, form a keeper.

Secured to the lower end of the member 13 is a coil spring 17 which isalso secured to one of the legs 10. Secured to the member 16 is a link18 which is pivoted to the bell crank lever 19, which is in turncentrally pivoted on one of the legs 10 and has one arm extending awayfrom the leg 10, so that it may be operated by the foot. Secured to theupper ends of the legs 10, is a table or platform 21, of proper lengthand width to be received within the receptacle 12 and to permit thelatter to slide freely. One of the side walls of the members 12 is cutaway at 22, for the purpose which will hereinafter be more fullyexplained. The end walls of the receptacle 12 are cut away at the uppercorner adjacent to the opening 21 for a short distance, as shown at 23in Fig. 1. Formed at the upper edge of the end walls of the receptacle12 are outwardly extending flanges 24, designed for convenience to theoperator in grasping and raising the said receptacle. For removing theeggs from the receptacle 12 I have provided conveyors 25 and26, showninFigs. 2 and 8, comprising flat plates provided with a plurality ofopen ings 27 and made of any proper material or materials.

In the practical use of the receptacle 12, the receptacle is lowered tothe lower position of its movement when the platform 21 will fill. andclose its upper end. A flat board or plate or one of the conveyors 26 isplaced on top of the egg case 28 and the case of is then inverted andrested upon the table 21. flanges 24 and the cleats 29 on the egg case.

Assuming that the case is filled with eggs 31, placed in the ordinaryfillers made up of rectangular compartments with pasteboard partitionsbetween the fillers, the fillers and the eggs therein will rest on theplatform 21, while the case 28 will be raised with the receptacle 12 andmay then be removed, when the eggs will be within the receptacle 12. Theparts 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19 are so con structed and arranged that bypressing downwardly on the outwardly extending arm of the lever 19, thenotches 16 will be thrown away from the plate 15 and the receptacle 12may be lowered as desired. When the receptacle has been lowered to apoint where the lower edge of the opening 22 is even with or just belowthe level of the upper filler of eggs, one of the conveyors 26 is slidunder the upper filler. The operator may then grasp the edges of theconveyer 26 and remove the upper filler of eggs. By lowering thereceptacle 12, each of the fillers FOf eggs contained therein may beremoved in the same manner.

hflounted upon the members 11 is a receptacle 29, the walls in thebottom of which may be painted white, if desired. In the receptacle 29are suitable sources of light, as for instance, incandescent electriclights 30. The upper end of the receptacle 29 is open and is of suchsize that the edges of the conveyers will conveniently rest upon theupper edges of the receptacle 29. When a filler with eggs therein hasbeen lifted from the receptacle 12, resting on the conveyer 26, saidconveyer is placed upon the receptacle 29, as shown in Fig. 1. Theopenings 27 in the conveyors are so located as to correspondapproximately to the position of the eggs in the fillers. The lights maybe turned on in the receptacle 29 and the eggs may be conveniently andreadily tested.

Mounted on the cross members 11 are brackets on which is a frame 34,having a rectangular portion of proper size and shape to support theconveyers 25 and 26. Mounted in the frame 34, below the frame 35, aremirrors 36, properly inclined so that the eggs resting upon the conveyer26 may be seen reflected in said mirrors by an operator looking into themirrors from above and in front of said frames. The frame 34 is providedwith side and back members where- The operator then grasps the.

by it is inclosed. Hinged to the edge of the frame is a receptacle 37,designed to be folded over and above the frame 35 and containingsuitable sources of light, such as incandescent electric light globes38.

It will be understood that the light globes 30 and 38 are connected withsuitable sources of electric power. 1 preferably connect up the lights30 in the following manner: 1 preferto provide in connection with thereceptacle 29 wiring systems and switches, so arranged that when theconveyer 26 is placed on the receptacle 29, a switch is turned off,thereby shutting off the current which lights the globes in the roomwhere my device is situated and at the same time another switch itturned on, thereby lighting the lights in the globes 80. A similarlighting system and set of switches is provided for the receptacle 3?.The front wall of the receptacle 37 is provided with hinges 89 and catchdevices 40, so that said front wall can be raised for removing anyparticular egg and replacing it with another.

For replacing the eggs in the case, after having been tested, 1 haveprovided the following means: Mounted upon the legs 10 of the device,preferably at the end thereof, opposite the receptacle 12, is areceptacle 41, open at the top. Mounted within the receptacle 41 is ahorizontal partition 42, shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 anddesigned to slide up and down within said receptacle. The partition 42is supported by a rack bar 43 which is slidably mounted at its lower endin the frame members. Mounted upon a suitable cross member 44 is abracket 45 in which is mounted a shaft 46. Fixed on one end of the shaft46 is a segment 47 having teeth 48, designed to mesh with the teethofthe rack bar 43. On the outer end of the shaft 46 is a lever 48 which isdesigned to coact with a sector 49, having notches 50, corresponding innumber to the number of fillers in an ordinary case of eggs. The partsjust described are so arranged that when the lever 48 is moved from onenotch of the sector 49 to the next'notch thereof, the platform 42 ismoved approximately the distance equal to the height of one filler ofeggs.

1 shall now describe more fully the practical operation of my improvedegg testing device.

A case of is inverted on the platform 21 and the case and receptacle 12are then raised leaving the eggs and the fillers within the receptacle12. One of the conveyers 26 is then slid through the opening 22 beneaththe upper filler of eggs. The receptacle 12 is dropped a distance equalto one notch of the bar 13 and the conveyer 26 with the filler and theeggs therein are removed and placed upon the receptacle 29.

It will be understood that any convenient lighting system may be usedfor testing the eggs resting on the receptacle 29. The eggs after havingbeen tested are placed upon the frame 35 and are tested for cracks inthe shells or other defects which might possibly not be visible fromabove. Should any of the eggs be defective, the front wall of thereceptacle 37 may be raised and the defective removed and another eggput in its place. After the eggs have thus been thoroughly tested, theplatform 42 is moved to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig.1, with the rack bar in the position shown by the dotted lines and theconveyer 26 is slid into the receptacle 41, resting upon the platform42. The conveyor 26 may then be removed and the second filler of eggstaken from the receptacle 12. The receptacle 12 is gradually lowered asthe eggs are removed to give access to the next lower fillers. After thefirst filler has been placed upon the platform 42 of the receptacle 41,the lever 48 is moved for lowering the platform 42 and the second fillermay be placed above the first filler and the operation continued untilall the eggs in a case have been removed therefrom, tested and placedwithin the receptacle 41. The receptacle 41 is gradually raised and theadditional fillers are placed inposition above the platform 42. When thereceptacle 41 is filled an egg case is inverted on top of saidreceptacle and the platform 42 is raised. A conveyor 20 on the flatplate is placed on the platform 42 before the first filler of eggs isrested thereon and when the receptacle 41 with the case above it islowered until an operator can grasp the case and the plate or conveyer26 on the platform 42, the case of eggs is turned over to its normalposition and is ready for use.

The advantages of my improved device for-testing eggs are largely seenfrom the foregoing description.

It will be seen that the eggs may be tested by fillers instead of one ortwo at a time and the eggs may be handled by fillers instead of one ortwo at a time. Jonsidering the standard egg cases now in use, this meansthat the eggs can be handled thirtysix or seventy-two at a time. Theeggs are thoroughly and completely tested and may be viewed from allpoints by simply removing the fillers. It may be noted in thisconnection that the receptacle 12 and the mechanism shown therewith,could be used for filling the cases as well as for removing the eggsfrom them by reversing the order of operations hereinbefore describedand the receptacle 41 and platform 42 could. be used for removing theeggs from a case by reversing the order of operations therewith, ashereinbefore set forth.

lVith my device, the eggs may be tested in a very short time and with aminimum number of operations and all possible defects would bediscovered on account of the use of the lights above and below the andthe use of the mirrors 36.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an egg handling device, a support ing frame, a horizontal,platform mounted thereon, and a receptacle, open above and below,mounted to slide vertically on said frame and to receive said platform.

2. In an egg handling device of the class described, a supporting frame,a horizontal platform mounted thereon, a receptacle, open above andbelow, mounted to slide vertically on said frame and to receive saidplatform, said receptacle having one wall cut away at its upper edge,and a conveyer, designed to enter said receptacle where said portion iscut away.

3. In an egg handling device, a supporting frame, a horizontal platformmounted thereon, a receptacle, open above and below, mounted to Slidevertically on said frame and to receive said platform, means forsupporting said receptacle in certain positions the same relativedistances apart, and means whereby said supporting means may be releasedfor lowering said receptacle a certain distance.

4. In an egg handling device, a supporting frame, a horizontal. platformmounted thereon, a receptacle, open above and below, mounted to slidevertically on said frame and to receive said platform, and adjustablemeans for supporting said receptacle in various positions.

5. In an egg handling device, a supporting frame, a horizontal platformmounted thereon, a receptacle, open above and below, mounted to slidevertically on said frame and to receive said platform, adjustable meansfor supportii'lg said receptacle in various positions, said meanscomprising an upright pivoted below said receptacle, having a pluralityof. notches, a keeper. a plate therein to engage said notches, a coilspring secured to said upright and to said frame for holding saidnotches against said plate, and means for drawing said upright away fromsaid plate.

Des h/loines, Iowa, August 20, 1913.

HARRY 1C. REX. Witnesses S. ROBINSON, M. iVALLAon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

